Hideo's steps paused, his attention grabbed by someone addressing him. Not a voice he recognized - nor the name. "Hello," was his quick response, before asked about his Pokemon.

It wasn't too surprising someone asked him about her. "She's an Arcanine, though she really looks different from most, doesn't she?" He'd gotten a decent-enough description from his Rotomdex to know that she didn't simply feel different.

He brushed her side with his hand - her fur still felt tougher than he remembered. "She wasn't always like this. She used to be like any other Arcanine, but then something weird happened over in Petalburg woods. A bunch of Pokemon appeared out of nowhere-" He lost track of how many Eeveelutions they'd battled there, "-and next thing I knew, she was like this."

A small nuzzle to the side of the face caught him off guard, and he had to gently push away the affectionate Arcanine.

"Didn't change how she acts that much. She still listens to me when I call her 'Floofer'." And she still carried him around when there was danger - either on her back or with her mouth. "So it's not like I got her mixed up with some other Arcanine wandering around."

Eva Morales

Hideo could hear Eva’s Pokemon approach, seemingly focused on his Arcanine. His Pokemon merely watched, tilting her head as she was sniffed. Just to be polite, she sniffed back, though by the time the other Arcanine finished, she noticed his confusion - though she didn’t know exactly what he was confused by.

Hideo practically lit up when Eva introduced herself as a League Head Professor. "Oh, wow!" he exclaimed, "Glad to know I can help a Head Professor!"

He nodded as Eva explained the phenomena. “It was the first one I was in, but not the only one.” More than one case where Pokemon literally appeared out of nowhere, including strange ones that were a lot like other Pokemon, yet different. “I was kinda close to one near Sootopolis, and I was in one in the Mossdeep Space Center and in Mt Pyre. And each time, I got a strange Pokemon. The first one was the only time it changed my Pokemon.”

He could hear Eva let out a Pokemon, listening to her explain which it was. He simply shook his head at the offer to scan it - there was no need. “Thanks, but I already got one scanned in my Pokedex. It's like a Goodra, but it's got a big shell on its back, like a Magcargo, right?”

Probably obvious to anyone who could see, but without any of his Telepathic Pokemon (or his Rotomdex) out, he'd need someone else to tell him.

"I got one like that when I was near Sootopolis. Think it managed to wander out all the way to me. At least, I'm pretty sure it's a Goodra: it's goopy like one."

Eva Morales

Hideo nodded - a motion that didn’t work for him, but he knew everyone else could understand well enough. “I gotta wonder how many other people got their Pokemon changed,” he mused, “or why they’re changing like that. I don’t think it’s totally random, ‘cause both our Goodras are different in the same way: mine's got a big steel-like shell too, and knows some Steel moves.” Maybe there was some method to the chaos unfolding through Hoenn.

As for his own Arcanine’s changes: “Well, I dunno about typing…I kinda rely on my Rotomdex for that stuff, and this is the first time it’s seen this Arcanine, so it just says she’s Fire type.” It took a moment of thinking before he recalled a couple changes. “But it did notice that she learned a Rock-type move. Arcanine’s usually don’t learn those. She’s still got a lot of fire-type moves too, even one I didn’t even know about ‘til my Rotomdex brought it up.”

There was also another change he’d noticed, though it was fairly subtle and probably didn’t mean too much. “And, uh, I guess her skin’s a bit rougher too? It’s only really something I notice when I’m petting her or riding on top of her.”

All those together lead to a theory. “So maybe’s she part Rock-type now?”

Eva Morales

Hideo nodded. "Yeah, she can use Rock Slide now. Not exactly a weak Rock move, and it's the only one she has. She wouldn't be the first Fire/Rock-type out there, but she's definitely the first Arcanine I've heard of with that type." If it was her typing now. "I haven't had the chance to test her new stuff in battle yet. Last time I had was when she got changed, and I missed exactly when the change happened, so I dunno if she's gotten stronger or tougher or whatever."

She had already been averse to water before, so he didn't notice any changes in her bath-time behavior. Though that new typing combination didn't bode well against Water attacks.

As for Eva's request? "Oh, sure!" Hideo replied, nodding. "I'm sure she won't miss a bit of samples if you ask her…though I gotta ask what you mean by samples?"

As Hideo said, the Arcanine was willing to let Eva take a few samples from her - a bit of her fur, a few chunks of her rocky plates. Her friendly demeanor wouldn't change - even if she would whimper a bit if a sensitive part got tapped.

Eva Morales

The Arcanine watched as Eva approached her, nodding as she was asked permission. She was already fine with it once Hideo agreed to it, lying on the ground with her legs out and aligned with her body in a very comfortable sploot.

Her mane would be in easy reach, and there was plenty of mane and rock to sample from. She wouldn't fight it, even adjusting her neck if Eva needed it.

However, the mention of drawing a blood sample brought a worried look on her face. And knowing it was a look Hideo couldn't see, she let out a small whimper, gently poking at the boy with her head. "Guess she's less eager about that," Hideo sighed.

If it had been some random person, he would've been more adverse to the request, but this was a head scientist of the League. "Well, if it'll help us understand what's happened to her, you can take a sample. It'll just be a little bit, Floofer."

He pat his Arcanine on the head, the large canine sadly nodding and keeping her head close to Hideo. She'd allow Eva to take a sample - though the moment the needle touched her skin, she'd pull Hideo in, small tears forming in her eyes as she held him like a stuffed toy.

Fortunately, Hideo wasn't hurt, just patting her on the head as the blood was drawn.

Eva Morales

The Arcanine whimpered slightly, holding Hideo tight as the needle entered her body. It was only a tiny needle, and barely any blood was taken, but she still held on to Hideo like she was getting an amputation. The boy could only accept his fate as a comfort toy, patting his Arcanine on the head and whispering comforting words to her.

Was she actually in a lot of pain, or was she just playing it up?

When she spotted the Oran Berry offered as a treat, tears dried up almost immediately, a wide smile on her face as she went right for the berry, her tail wagging.

"Yeah, she can have it," Hideo said, freshly freed, though she'd already eaten it before he spoke. "Floofer can be a real drama queen sometimes."

That comment earned him an Oran-Berry-enhanced lick to the side of the face, sticking his hair up with a slight blue tint.

"So what're you gonna study her blood for?" he asked, trying to wipe the saliva off his face and get his hair back down. "Is there something you're looking for in particular?"

He could only hope it was a simple answer: he didn't know squat about what was supposed to be in blood, other than blood cells.

Eva Morales